Category Archives: Me, Myself & I

Goodbye Marlboro Man

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Goodbye Marlboro Man.  My being with you wasn’t my best experience in life and I hope not to meet you again.

As much as I want to keep it to myself and prevent myself from bragging, I could no longer help but make it known that I have stopped – as in totally ceased – from SMOKING.  Yeah, for exactly 3 weeks now my pair of lungs has been free from the dangers of tobacco.  Exactly 3 weeks now I have not lighted a single cigarette.  And luckily, exactly 3 weeks now I have not craved for even a single puff.

Don’t get me wrong but I am not a chain smoker.  Though I have been smoking for the past 20 years whose only apparent reason for lighting cigarettes is because of my high-flying zaniness, I actually consider myself a “sosyal” (social) smoker.

my vaping gadget courtesy of Bautina

my vaping gadget courtesy of Bautina

The kicking-off of my smoking habit was actually not planned.  It was not a new year’s resolution for I believe New Year promises are actually made to be broken.  It was a simple unexpected circumstance.  Thanks to my younger sister Joy (I call her Bautina) for gifting me a special gadget for Christmas, i.e., an electronic vaporizer otherwise known as e-cigarette.

I started with a tiny container of e-juice with high nicotine content.  Now I’m on my second vial that has medium content of nicotine (6 mg).  Upon finishing this, my third vial is ready to vaporize with zero nicotine content.  All provided for free by my sweet sister Bautina.

Surprisingly, I have yet to experience the symptoms of withdrawal and have yet to feel what the terrifying cold turkey would be like.  I am glad that I just simply feel better.  I am free from the trappings that come with it — no more coughing, no more gasping for air, no more choking-stench of breath and fingers.  And more importantly, I will no longer have to cringe at the thought of my being impolite for being the lone smoker in a group of non-smokers.

To those who happen to bumped upon this article, congratulate me!  I can proudly say that this silent personal holocaust is over.

Nakaw!!! Pano na yan?! Lalong mas magiging malinamnam na ako nito ngayon?!

Japanese Shower Room Boots

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Prior to Christmas I promised myself that I would blog about all the gifts and presents I received.  But I guess that would now be next to impossible because thankfully I was able to receive quite a ton of it.  Writing each and every item I received would be too much for a task.  For sure readers would get bored to dullness.

But last Christmas – receiving presents from a simple picture frame to lavish high tech gadget – there is one item I can’t resist writing about.  It’s about the Japanese Shower Room Boots.

a unique christmas gift from denden... my own japanese shower room boots!

a unique christmas gift from denden… my own japanese shower room boots!

My nephew Den Den gave it to me after noticing that I have been so insanely fascinated by these boots.  The first time I saw these type of footwear was during the first night of my family’s stay in a hotel at Osaka, Japan last year.  I was so transfixed because we don’t have those in the Philippines.

my outrageous fashion statement! LOL

my outrageous fashion statement! LOL

The first pair I saw (inside the hotel shower room) was plain white in color.  I thought it was some sort of a plastic arinola (piss potty).  But when I figured it out, I tried it on, laughed out loud and pondered if I can kick-off a fashion trend in Manila.

I think the purpose of these boots aside from keeping yourself from slipping on the floor tiles while doing your shower is to prevent the soles of your feet from touching the frigidly cold stone tiles of the shower room (especially during winter).

Though it will be silly to wear those here in Manila, these slippers will be an awesome keepsake on how I turned bonkers when I first encountered it.  Until this plastic shower shoes becomes a fashion craze, it will for now be kept inside my treasure chest.

For the meantime, my feet will have to settle on the comfort of my indoor slippers which by the way is also Japanese branded.

my super comfy Muji indoor slippers

my super comfy Muji indoor slippers

Sana ma-uso! LOL

Got Hooked By Kiehl’s

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My first purchase of Kiehl’s products was actually not for me.  It was a bunch of Kiehl’s that I gave as Christmas presents to three ladies whom I consider to be the hardest to buy for in my list last Christmas.

the facial fuel sampler, it's so effective i want to spread it on my bread and eat it

the facial fuel sampler, it’s so effective i want to spread it on my bread and eat it

Good thing about these purchases is that Kiehl’s store gives out generous samplers.    These are the testers packed in small vials and sachets I personally tried for myself.  And guess what?  I was hooked.

It’s not too long ago that I have realized that nobody’s going to take care of my skin but me.  Thus, any skin product that will come my way and given to me for free for sure will be applied and tested on my supple young looking skin.

As for Kiehl’s samples, I got a miniscule jar of Facial Fuel Anti Wrinkle Cream; a vial of Orange Flower & Lychee Aromatic Mist; a tiny bar of Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap; sachets of Ultra Light Daily UV Defense; and, Rare Earth Pore Moisturizing Lotion.

The facial fuel which has a light minty feel was perfect.  It felt like nourishment is being fed directly on my skin for it is absorbed easily.  I know this because finding a good moisturizer for an oily skin like mine and at the same time living in a hot, humid tropical country would be like finding the holy grail.   It’s so effective “gusto ko ipalaman sa tinapay”.

I love the super texture of the bar soap, it cleans well and doesn’t dry out my skin. The “perfumista” in me was hooked by the scent of the aromatic mist particularly the Orange Flower & Lychee.  It is an awesome concoction that I can truly rave about.  I have tried numerous scents available in the market but the smell only last for a couple of hours.   the aromatic mist can amazingly last the whole day and it sits well with my skin chemistry.

However, I have yet to try the moisturizing lotion and the UV defense formula samplers. Pwede bang ihalo na lang sa kape ang mga yan?

my bunch of kiehl's

my bunch of kiehl’s

And since these amazing samplers have run out, I can no longer pretend not to hear my skin screaming to me saying it misses Kiehl’s.  Thus, I purchased Kiehl’s products today which I will be using for myself in the next couple of months.   Though Kiehl’s here in the Philippines is quite pricey I am nevertheless convinced that they got some awesome merchandise.

Walang ibang mag-aalaga ng balat mo kundi ang sarili mo. Tapos!

My Wish for the Year 2013? Spell It!

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money scrabblePeople need money.  But for me, I don’t just need money because what I want is MORE MONEY!   People need money to survive and live a normal life.  Money allows us to buy what we want and what we need.  It is indeed not the guarantee to make people happy but let us face the fact that it is one potent medium that gives us vicarious pleasure.

Some even say that it is the root of all evil.  But let us also confront the truth that it bridges the gap for us to have roof over our head, food on the table, clean water, electricity, gas, transportation and even medicine when we are under the weather.  And if used properly it could enhance other’s lives through donations, charities and poverty alleviation.  Therefore having loads of money can be a powerful catalyst to spread the… spell it! L. O. V. E.

I know a lot of happy people who gets along fine without money.  But I don’t want to be like them.  I want to be happy and at the same time own truckloads of money.  I guess there’s nothing wrong with wanting the good things in your life.  Don’t get me wrong because I intend to earn, have and own money in a virtuous manner.  No way will I be a crook.  And I know I’m smarter than the devil so I won’t sell my soul just to have it.

I don’t know how much money I need.  But one thing is for sure I want mountains and mountains of it.  I want money running out of my butt.  I want money wafting out of my ears.  I want money growing out from my pimples.  Call me greedy, call me insane but I want to be a money magnet.

I guess now you know what my absurd yet practical wish for this New Year… spell it! M. O. N. E. Y. and more of it.

Oo na. Mababaw na kung mababaw. Pero aym shur… gusto mo rin nyan!

Best YouTube Video Reaction On This Year’s Ms. Universe Pageant

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photo of the now "classic" 2010 ms. universe pageant reaction on youtube

photo of the now “classic” 2010 ms. universe pageant reaction on youtube

YouTube again is now flooded with clips that demonstrates Filipinos euphoric reaction while watching the Ms. Universe pageant.  Common in all these jubilant and ecstatic emotional bursts is especially evident when Ms. Philippines is announced as part of the cut of top 16, top 10 or top 5.

This serves to confirm that beauty pageants no matter what it brings to the country’s economic or cultural growth is a big deal in this part of the globe.  In the Philippines, Ms. Universe pageant can be equated as the Superbowl of America, the Mardi Gras of Brazil, the crowning of a monarch in Great Britain or the TV appearance of Kim Jong-un in North Korea.

People around the world would again wonder how come it takes some time before it is uploaded on YouTube.  The answer is simple, the Philippines has to slowest internet web loading in the planet.

These usually funny video clips loaded on YouTube is now a staple in the Philippines since the country’s representatives for the past 3 years has landed on the top 5 of the pageant.

janine tugonon & olivia culpo

janine tugonon & olivia culpo

But for this year’s version of video clips some were not the usual rapturous reaction but nevertheless remains hilarious.  This is especially true when on the final spot of the competition, the Filipina beauty whom everybody expected to win because of a grand performance during the night and supposedly sealing the crown on her head with a very intelligent answer was not announced the winner.

For me this year’s epic funny video comes from these two hopeful yet surprised earthlings (uploaded by Alma Gloriana) who evidently are not living in the Philippines (the Philippines have yet to have a winter season).  Look at how this two drop their jaws on a very simultaneous manner.  It’s an epic of a clip!

“Uhhhg!” Hahaha! Napa-NGA-NGA si Ate’t Kuya!

Handwritten Notes In My Treasure Box

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I don’t know but there must be something in my hypothalamus that bursts with uplifting joy every time I would receive a handwritten heartwarming note or letter from a friend or a relative.  The value of handwritten poignant thoughts directly conveyed to my inner being cheers me up in high spirits.

Maybe this is the reason why I have the compulsion to keep, store and squirrel away these letters and notes no matter how short the messages are and regardless of what sort of paper these are written on.

To hint on some examples, herewith are a few of the letters/notes that I have been keeping in my treasure box in which some heedless souls may already consider as trash…

chosen notes from my treasure box

few of the notes from my treasure box

this kid will be turning 12 early next year

this kid is turning 12 early next year

Of course two of my personal favorites…

thatcher, my niece's christmas letter last year. i can hardly remember what she gave me but this letter will forever be remembered

my niece thatcher’s christmas letter last year. i can hardly recall what she gave me but this letter will forever be kept and remembered

luis' note when he was just starting to learn how to write (left was the front page, to the right is the meat of his "very precise" message)

my nephew luis’ letter written on a tiny sheet of paper when he was just starting to learn how to write.  (left was the front page, to the right is the content of his “very precise” message).  luis is entering college next year…

Or maybe I got this penchant attribute from my mother.  I can clearly recall when I was still a skinny kid when Nengkoy would make a décor-less scrapbook of all the Christmas Holiday and Birthday greeting cards she would receive through the years. These colorful greetings card she received were usually from my father who was then working in the Middle East, from my dear relatives based in USA and Canada (the Romasanta-s and the Pineda-s) as well as from her close friends working in various parts of the world.

Kapag ako sumikat, pwedeng ipang-myusiyum ang mga ‘yan.

Gifts Received On My Birthday

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I had a blast when I celebrated my birthday.  As a gift for myself, I slept the whole morning, purchased a couple of books to read for the next few nights and had a relaxing massage.  Later in the day I had dinner buffet with my family at Yanagi Japanese Restaurant at Midas Hotel.

yanagi at the mezz of midas hotel

While having our dinner, I received the best gifts for my birthday.  One came from my younger sister and zany nephews, i.e. a Sponge Bob printed boxer briefs in which the box where it is contained seems more expensive than the actual gift.  Another is the sumptuous blowout dinner buffet paid for by my elder sister in which I was surprised because the waiters of the Japanese restaurant gave me a candle-lit cake and sang me a birthday song in the tune of One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful.

my birthday cake

Lastly of course was the gift given by Nengkoy.  A personalized printed shirt that bears the usual question I would often utter to my nieces and nephews whenever they would show me something that they have done – “Is That Your Best?”  Let me post some other time why I got to terms with this line of questioning.

nengkoy’s gift

nengkoy and me

By the way let me thank all the beautiful souls who greeted me on my birthday.  Let me post in this blog the jokey note I have written on my Facebook page as my expression of gratitude…

Let me express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who greeted me a Happy Birthday today.  Each greeting really meant a lot to me and absolutely made my day.  How thoughtful, how Goldilocks!

Because of your greetings, I feel like Purefoods Fiesta Ham, the Star of the Noche Buena Feast!  Because you remembered I’m like KFC, finger lickin’ good!  Para kayong Vick’s Vapo Rub, may haplos ng pagmamahal.

Now that my birthday is ending, my personal mood is like Lactum, 100% Panatag.  Tomorrow for sure would be like Meralco… May Liwanag Ang Buhay… xoxo

Salamasss!

Receiving Flyers is a Measure of Looking Rich

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recent flyer i was handed with

Distributing flyers inside a mall or out on the street is such a daunting task.  But are you the type who easily gets pissed off when a stranger tries to hand you a piece of flyer when all you wanted to do is to proceed to the nearest coffee shop to grab your espresso?  Or are you the “deadma type” (feigning unawareness type) who would just proceed with your hasty pace so as to carry on with your weekend shopping of your essentials?

I’m neither both.  In fact I am pleased when a stranger hand me a flyer.  This is especially true when the leaflets or brochures being handed over are about offerings for platinum credit cards, exclusive gym memberships, condominium units, 3-bedroom houses or even luxurious cars.

I fancy being handed with these brochures and flyers because it looks like I am perceived to be a capable soul of buying and paying for these expensive products.  In short, I look rich!

That is why I hate it when I am with Ate Gaying (my elder sister) inside a mall because every time we come across a distributing Flyer Dude or Dudette she is the one being handed over with these well printed brochures.  She would simply utter and tell me, “Ay, ako ang binigyan.  Mukha ka kasing mahirap” (Translation: “Oops, I’m the one given.  It’s because you look poor”).  This would simply be the moment I would execute my villainous stare with angry gritting teeth towards the flyer-giver.

So, every time you are handed with a promotional flyer, accept, smile and be glad about it.  It’s because you simply look rich.

Kahit sa pagtanggap ng flayer, pinapasosyal ko sarili ko. Hahaha!

Neil Tattoo

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It is believed that a tattoo marked on a person’s skin is the owner’s artistic expression about himself/herself.  It further distinguishes a person’s appearance, trait and character other than his or her unique DNA and matchless thumbprints.

If ever having a tattoo on your skin is going to be one key requirement to live a normal a life on this planet (similar to having a “name”) have you ever wondered what design/s are you gonna have printed on your epidermis?

I do.  It would be this….

neil in tamil

This is how my name is written in the ancient language of Tamil.  I intend to have it marked on my left shoulder blade.  And since I for sure cannot tolerate the excruciating pain of tattoo needles nipping my clear, supple and young-looking skin, I will just have it soon printed on a shirt.

Istey kul, bukul…

Bitter Apple

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This is old news, but according to Colin Birss, a British high-court judge, Samsung devices “do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design”.  He said that Samsung is “not as cool”.  This court decision refused Apple to be granted an order for an injunction against importing Samsung devices into the United Kingdom and the whole European Union nations.

I guess for all its worth I do agree with Judge Birss that Samsung is not cool enough.  Samsung for me is not cool because it is actually blazing hot!  As in H.O.T.!!!

This is especially true with Samsung Galaxy Note II.  It is an extraordinary phone with hot personality. It is a charming device in a slightly larger-than-life kind of way.  Because of this, I made Samsung Galaxy Note II as an early birthday gift to my equally hot self.

my new phone

Now that I am discovering the awesome features of my new phone, I can conclude that Samsung’s claim for innovation has been solidified.  Some even believe that Samsung Galaxy Note II is Apple’s IPhone 10 in the future.

For more recent news, in compliance to the same court order Apple initially published a snarky and sarcastic apology to Samsung as if saying, “Samsung is dim-witted and we are the coolest”.  This resulted for Apple to be reprimanded by the same British court and was told to fix their apology.  On October 25, 2012, Apple published a revised yet still dry apology to Samsung.  For me, this juvenile impulse and unsophisticated actuations of Apple is neither cool nor hot.  I call it “bitter”.

Helow!